John Beard Bill

‘William Wright was one of my closest friends. He sadly died last October,’ says John Beard. ‘Bill had a richly stimulating career. He was a distinguished educator, arts administrator and curator. Charming, curious and engaging, he thrived on challenges and being challenged.

‘But most of all Bill would like to be remembered as an artist: a superb colourist. Instead of painting him in the customary monochrome manner of my series of artist portraits, I have introduced the three primaries – yellow, red and blue – the essential elements for mixing every colour. I have honoured him with an artist’s tricolour flag, demonstrating an act of painting with a robust gesture layered across a delicate facture of his image. Perhaps a little “difficult” on first encounter, Bill sits behind the tricolour silently, almost a fugitive: an “otherworldly” image of engagement and insightfulness.’

Born in 1943 in Aberdare, Wales, Beard studied at the University of London and Royal College of Art. He is a former trustee of the Art Gallery of New South Wales and now divides his time between Sydney and London. He won the 2006 Wynne and 2007 Archibald Prizes.

Beard’s portrait of Wright is now in the collection of the National Art School in Sydney